The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 349

sad a thing to be left unanswered. So he ~aye," If you will 'iuquire,' do .inqu4'0. Come into the court of inquiry with a can<li,l, honest spirit; llo not dcluJe yourself by holding up OI~ or two modern objections before your eyes and declaring tl:iii.t tlicte is nc1thing to be seen. Take into account all the evidence-of prophecy; of rnhacle; of (he life, character, truth, works, of Jesus Christ; of the effects of Ins gospel on the world, on human hearts, homes, li\'es; on man, ou womau, on the slave, the puor,, the prison~!·, ~tc. Set against this what has to be considere,I on the other side, and theu decide whether this !'<'demption in Je,us Christ is not fro:n hl':wen. Or, again, if you have any serious doubts as to the efficacy of true piety an,1 ils actual worth to a man as he goes through lil'e, inquire; but take heed of whom you inquire. .Ask of one who hns had large and varied experience of life; ask of one who has seen much of men, in whom men have trusted and who knows the thoughts of their hearts; take the testi- mony of men to whom religion has been not a mere name, or a mere ceremony, bµt a >10lid conviction and a living power; and you will find, on such fair inquiry, that 'it is not only a stay and succour, but is the mainstay and the strength of the human wul in the labours an,! conflict.s of life."-C. • • Vers. 13-17.-0ur ills and tl,eir remedies. In thls "burden• upon 'Arabia. we may detect a picture or, at Jeai,t, find a suggestion of--c- I. THE ILLS TO WllICH FLESU IS HEIB. 1. Bein,q turned out of our course. '.fhe caravans of Dedan are obliged to forsake their track and find refuge in the forests or stony retreats of the desert (,·er. 13). Continually are we compelled to. change our rout.e as tra.ellers along the ro~d of life. We mark out our course and set ot1t oii'our way, but the irresistil,le obstacle is confronted and we are obliged to deviate into some other track, or ,rnit in hope until the hindrance be removed. 2. Being straitened/or the 'ne,ces:;ities of l[fe. The refu~ees are reduced to such straits .that they are glad to receive the bre,,J and watec which "the inhabitants of the land of Terna·" bring (ver. 14). Thou;;h God has made this earth. to be large and bountiful enough for a vastly greater population than even now exists UJJOil it, yet, chiefly owing" to human folly or iniquity, thou;;h rnmetimes to misfortune, men a.re· ·reduced to such extreme hardship that the common necessaries are beyond their, re/!.ch. Between this e:tigency aud the condition of competence, how many degrees of'warit, and bow man,y thousands of the children of want, are there to be found ! 3.' Being assaifod and pur- sued by tM enemies of our spirit. (Ver. 15.) There are adverse ppv;:ers froiµ, beneath'- tlie "principalities a.nd powers" ·of the kingdom of darkness; there ar~ hostile power11 that are around us-unprinci;led and ungodly men, evil practices and harmful insti- tutions in society; but our ,rorEt foes are those which are "of .our own household," those that are within the chauibers of our own souls-bad hit.bits, evil propensities, those inclinations toward folly and sin which pursue ns even when the main battle ha.~ been fought and won. 4. Finding our life oppressive and burdensome to. us. ".AccordiL" to the years of a birding" (ver. 16). 'l'he time thus counted is reckoned with ext~me carefulness; there is no danger that a single day wm be left untold. The hireling is impatient for the time to be past t~at_ he may lay down the yoke and receive his wage. How many are there to whom life 1s so much of a burden, who a.re so oppressed by toil, or weighed down with care, or overwhelmed by sorrow, that they look gladly, if not eagerly, forward to its evening hour, wlien the night of death will release them from their struggle! 5. Being distinctly and at lengthfatally enfee~led. " The glory of Kedar shall fail," the bowmen and the mighty men ',' be diminished " (vers. 16, 17). Up to a certain point human life means, not only enjoyment, but increase; from that point it means diminutior.--at first unconscious, but afterwards i;ensible and painful; at length fatal diminution-in the capacity for enjoyment, in intellectual grasp, in physical endurance, in force of character. The glory of life goes; the faculties of soul and of body are palJJably diminished; death draws near. But we may take into our view- . II. DIVINELY PROVIDED nEMl.mlES. 1. Pursuing the straight path to ~he goal which i, set before us, from which no enemy need make us turn aside. 2. Trusting i~ the faithful Promiser. 3. Hiding in the pavilion of Divine power, and securing the mighty aid of the Divine Spirit. 4. Seeking and finding the comfort .of the Holy Ghost. 6, A.we.it.iii~ th1.1 immortal youth of the heavenly land.-C.  ell. lm. 1-1? .] TH£ BOOK . OD' 'l'ltE .PROPHET ISAIAH. 341